Today, March 17, the grand opening of the XXXIII Minsk International Book Fair took place at the BelExpo Exhibition Complex. This year, the event commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Year of the Belarusian Woman. The exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Writers' Union of Belarus, and the Minsk City Executive Committee, with the support of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The opening ceremony was accompanied by a vibrant performance: through images in national costumes, the participating countries and their literary heritage were presented, emphasizing the international nature of the fair.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests: Vladimir Pertsov, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Belarus; Sergei Lebedev, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Independent States; Mikhail Shvydkoi, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation; Andrei Kuntsevich, First Deputy Minister of Information of the Republic of Belarus; Olga Shpilevskaya, Chairperson of the Belarusian Union of Women; Alexander Karlyukevich, Chairperson of the Union of Writers of Belarus; and Anatoly Iksanov, Executive Director of the Interstate Foundation for Humanitarian Cooperation of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
During the official part of the event, Vladimir Pertsov read out a welcome address from President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to the exhibition participants and guests:
– Good afternoon, book lovers! I am pleased to welcome you to the hospitable land of Belarus. Allow me to read out the address from President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to the participants and guests of the XXXIII Minsk International Book Fair:
«Dear friends! I welcome the participants and guests of the Minsk International Book Fair. For many years, it has been a long-awaited and significant event in the fields of literature and publishing, bringing together professionals and enthusiasts of the printed word from around the globe. I am confident that the book forum, timed to coincide with the 35th anniversary of the CIS, will strengthen the potential for international cooperation, discover new names, and present exciting projects aimed at developing publishing and promoting the spiritual and moral values of the Commonwealth. I wish everyone creative success, prosperity, and pleasant impressions.»
Vladimir Borisovich also noted:
– The Minsk International Book Fair, in the history of book printing in modern Belarus, is an event not only for those who create books–poets, writers, designers, artists, publishing and printing house employees. It is an event for everyone who loves books–popular and refined. I wish everyone a wonderful experience, and I wish the guests a warm welcome to the hospitable Belarusian land.
Traditionally, the exhibition brings together publishers, writers, librarians, and readers from across the globe, providing a platform for cultural dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and the discovery of new publications. This year, the exhibition features collective regional stands from all regions of Belarus, as well as literature from publishers from Russia, China, Brazil, Venezuela, Germany, India, Iran, Cuba, Turkey, the UAE, and other countries. A special feature is the "International Quarter," where participants present their cultural and literary projects.
The Belarusian National Technical University is also actively participating in the exhibition. The BNTU Scientific Library's stand displays the research works of university staff, as well as publications published by the editorial and publishing department.
Sergei Monich, Deputy Dean of the BNTU Instrument Engineering Faculty, shared his impressions of the BNTU exhibition:
– The exhibition features a wide variety of literature, and it is especially gratifying to see a wide range of Belarusian publications: virtually every region offers something of interest to readers." Here you can find literature to suit every taste – both for personal interest and for professional development. As for BNTU publications, they primarily feature specialized scientific literature aimed at senior students, as well as those engaged in research. In the context of the Year of Belarusian Women, the works of our authors are also worth noting. In particular, E. A. Morozova's textbook "Architecture of Industrial Hubs of Belarus: History and Development Prospects" is on display, reflecting the contribution of female scientists to the development of the university's scientific and educational environment.
Also on the first day of the exhibition, a presentation of the book "Yakub Kolas. New Land" in Russian translation took place. The publication was presented by Andrey Tyavlovsky, PhD in engineering and associate professor of the Information and Measurement Engineering and Technology Department at BNTU, who translated the poem. Ales Badak, director of the Mastatskaya Litaratura publishing house, and Petro Zhavnerovich, the book's editor, also participated in the presentation.
Andrey Tyavlovsky shared his perspective on the work of a translator: according to him, translating poetry is not a matter of working with a dictionary, but an attempt to experience yourself as the author and convey to the reader the same emotions imbued in the original lines:
– When you translate, you have a pre-existing structure of a poem or novel. You must reproduce it, recreate it using the means of another language, using completely different means, in a way that preserves all the essential elements. You must succeed in identifying these essential elements and understanding how they were created. Literature appeals more to emotions than to consciousness. Therefore, it's important not just to understand, but to perceive, to feel. And when I recreate poetry, I first and foremost try to experience what the author intended me to experience, to experience myself as the author, and to convey that to the reader.
Tomorrow, March 18, the exhibition will host a national scientific and methodological seminar, «Publishing House as a Library, Library as a Publishing House», co-organized by the BNTU Scientific Library, together with the Belarusian State University and the Belarusian Library Association.
The seminar will discuss issues of depositing and preserving scientific materials, increasing the visibility of scientific publications, and implementing modern technologies that ensure effective access to scientific information.
We invite everyone to visit the exhibition and explore the BNTU booth!
The exhibition will run until March 22, and admission is free.
